# Applying kohl (to the eyes)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/applying-kohl-to-the-eyes/650807>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [February 19, 2013, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/applying-kohl-to-the-eyes/650807 "2013-02-19T16:37:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/applying-kohl-to-the-eyes/650807/1 "2013-02-19T16:37:41Z")

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I remember one time seeing in a movie set in India that a guy applied kohl to his eyes by dipping the applicator (a thin wand like a fat toothpick) into the powder and then holding it to his eye, closing his eye, and drawing the applicator to the side, leaving the kohl powder on the rims of both the upper and lower lids. It took about one second.

Is this how it’s done?

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**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/applying-kohl-to-the-eyes/650807/2 "2013-02-19T16:39:57Z")

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Yeah, that’s one way. Is that so surprising? Or are you trying to apply it yourself? When my dad got married they put kohl (kajol, in my language) on men’s eyes, too, so these women did it, giggling and laughing like crazy, since he had never did it himself.

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**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/applying-kohl-to-the-eyes/650807/3 "2013-02-19T16:51:20Z")

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No, it’s not surprising. It seems quite efficient, and it looks really beautiful and dramatic, even on the men. I did buy some kohl one time, but it was before I saw that movie and when I pulled out the applicator and it was coated with powder, I didn’t know how to apply it. I didn’t realize that the kohl doesn’t go above the eyelashes like eyeliner, but kind of under the upper lid and on the rim of the lower lid. I love the way it looks. Thanks. 🙂

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**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/applying-kohl-to-the-eyes/650807/4 "2013-02-19T16:52:36Z")

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I don’t wear it myself because it is a little more…“messy” than regular eyeliner, but it does look lovely. It frames already dark eyes and makes them huge.